The Moonlight Assassin

A Moment of Surprise

As the afternoon sun bathed the town of San Roque in a warm golden light, the fiesta continued in full swing. Miguel and Tabby, hand in hand, wandered through the bustling streets, their hearts light with joy and laughter. Miguel's parents, eager to share the delights of their hometown with Tabby, invited the young couple to sample some of the native kakanin – traditional Filipino rice cakes and delicacies – that were being sold by street vendors along the way.

"Try some puto bumbong, Tabby. It's a local favorite," Mama Lorena said with a smile, handing Tabby a steaming bundle of purple-hued rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves.

Tabby's eyes lit up with delight as she took a bite of the sticky-sweet treat, savoring the unique flavors of coconut and muscovado sugar. "Mmm, this is delicious! Thank you, Mama Lorena," she exclaimed, her cheeks flushed with pleasure.

Meanwhile, Tabby's family had joined in the festivities, eagerly participating in the fiesta games and activities that lined the town square. Bart and Liza laughed and cheered as they tried their hand at the various carnival games, while Mommy Miriam and Lola Esperanza watched indulgently from the sidelines, their hearts full of joy at the sight of their loved ones enjoying themselves. While inside the Calachuchi Inn, Tatay Cristobal tend to the needs of Daddy Eli who was still recovering in bed. 

Meanwhile, the newly-converted Sylvia had a nice conversation with a handful of women in town, sharing her story of being a former mangkukulam now saved in the hands of Jesus.

In the midst of the festivities, Miguel and Tabby found themselves caught up in the magic of the moment. With their hands intertwined and their hearts beating as one, they shared bites of kakanin, feeding each other with tender affection.

"Here, try this one, it's my favorite, puto bumbong" Miguel said, offering Tabby a piece of his puto bumbong with a playful grin.

"You know what, Miguel, I ate this earlier from your mom. But I was curious. Is puto bumbong only served during Christmas?", asked Tabby.

"Puto bumbong isn't only served during the Christmas holidays, love, we love serving them during fiestas, too," Miguel said.

"Okay then, let me have some, babe," said Tabby.

Tabby giggled, her heart swelling with love as she accepted the offering, savoring the sweetness of the rice cake on her tongue. "Mmm, it's delicious, just how your Nanay makes it," she murmured, her eyes sparkling with joy as she looked into Miguel's adoring gaze. 

As Tabby stared into Miguel's stunning black-brown eyes, his adorable grin, and his sculpted face, she seemed to see sparks in her sight, falling in love with her handsome boyfriend. In return, Miguel stared at Tabby's little eyes, plump rosy cheeks, and red budding lips. He seemed to be charmed by the lovely lady.

Lost in the moment, Miguel and Tabby leaned in close, their lips meeting in a gentle kiss that spoke volumes of the love and passion they shared. Around them, the world faded away, leaving only the two of them in a timeless embrace of romance and desire.

But their moment of bliss was shattered when the organizers of the town's beauty pageant made a desperate plea for help. 

"Help! Emergency! We have a contestant who just passed out!", said one of the townspeople. Medical personnel came immediately to tend to the fainted contestant.

"My gosh! What's happening?", said one of the pageant organizers, "how can we continue tonight's pageant if we have a missing contestant?"

One of the judges decided, "Let's have a woman from the outside join in!"

"That's not fair," replied the organizer, "Do you want someone not from San Roque win our town's pageant?"

"We need to abide by the rules," the judge said, "we can't continue if one representative can't join."

"Okay, then," the organizer said, "maybe we'll take the outsider in."

One of the contestants had fainted from the heat of the afternoon, leaving them in need of a last-minute substitute.

To the shock and dismay of Miguel, Tabby, and their families, Alice del Fierro stepped forward, volunteering to take the contestant's place in the pageant. As they watched in horror, realizing the danger that Alice's presence posed to the town, their hearts filled with fear and apprehension for what was to come.

"Yes sirs, I want to vounteer," Alice says, "I am Alice. I may not consider local here, but I assure you my family comes from here."

As Alice confidently stepped forward to volunteer as a last-minute contestant for the Miss San Roque pageant, murmurs of surprise and uncertainty rippled through the crowd. The organizers exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of whether to accept Alice's offer given her unfamiliarity with the town.

Miguel and Tabby shared a concerned glance, their hearts heavy with worry for what Alice's presence in the pageant might entail. Knowing the danger that Alice and her family posed to the town, they feared the repercussions of her participation in the festivities.

"Are you sure about this, miss?" one of the organizers asked, skepticism evident in his tone, "You're not from around here, are you?"

Alice met his gaze with unwavering confidence, her chin held high and her demeanor poised and self-assured. "I understand your concerns, but I assure you, I come from a long line of San Roque natives," she replied smoothly, her voice dripping with charm and charisma, "My family has roots in this town that date back generations. I may not have been born here, but San Roque will always be home to me."

The organizers exchanged hesitant glances, weighing the pros and cons of accepting Alice's offer. On one hand, they were in desperate need of a last-minute replacement for the pageant. On the other hand, they couldn't afford to risk the safety and well-being of the townsfolk by allowing an outsider to participate in the festivities.

After a moment of deliberation, the head organizer nodded reluctantly, his expression tinged with resignation. "Alright, Alice. We'll let you participate in the pageant," he conceded, "But know that you'll be held to the same standards as the other contestants. And if anything goes awry, you'll be held accountable."

Alice flashed him a dazzling smile, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Thank you, I won't let you down," she replied confidently, her mind already racing with plans for how she could use the pageant to further her own sinister agenda.

As the preparations for the pageant resumed, Miguel and Tabby exchanged worried glances, their hearts heavy with apprehension for what the evening might bring. Little did they know, the danger lurking beneath the surface of the festivities was far greater than they could have ever imagined.